Author: DW

Last November, the European Central Bank (ECB) issued a stark warning about the state of the commercial property sector within the bloc as part of its wider six-month review on overall financial stability. It said European property companies are recording huge losses and their debts are at a higher level than before the 2007-2008 financial crisis. These growing problems within the sector have “the potential to amplify an adverse scenario,” it warned. The dire soundings underlined how serious things have gotten within the commercial property sector over the past year. “If you ever wanted to cause trouble for the financial…

China summoned the Philippine ambassador on Tuesday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Lai Ching-te on winning the Taiwanese elections. Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), comfortably won Taiwan’s presidential election over the weekend. Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and did not favor Lai as a candidate. Marcos congratulated him, saying in a statement shared on social media that he was looking “forward to close collaboration” and “strengthening mutual interests.” It irritated Beijing, which considers Taiwan as part of China and has vowed to take back control of the self-governing island, with force if necessary. What did China say about the…

A bride was arrested for alleged extortion on her wedding day in Mexico and photographed handcuffed in her big white gown surrounded by police.The woman, identified only as Nancy N by state prosecutors, didn’t even make it into the church as officers ambushed the ceremony. She was detained as she got out of her vehicle to enter the church in Villa Guerrero, according to local media reports.Her husband-to-be, named as Clemente N – whose nickname is “El Raton”, meaning mouse – is wanted on the same charges but managed to escape.The pair – and others – are accused of extorting…

“Stella. A Life.” is not your usual Nazi-era film. Based on the true story of a Jewish woman from Berlin who denounced fellow Jews during the Holocaust, it tackles a delicate topic, especially here in Germany, and even more so in times of rising antisemitism. Yet this is not the first time Stella Goldschlag’s story has been told. Several books have been written about her. Goldschlag’s former classmate, Peter Wyden, wrote a non-fiction book on her case, titled “Stella: One Woman’s True Tale of Evil, Betrayal, and Survival in Hitler’s Germany” (1993). German journalist and author Takis Würger based his 2019 novel on the same character, offering a fictionalized account that sparked…

What’s happened? After scoring a goal against Trabzonspor on Sunday, Israeli football player Sagiv Jehezkel held up his hand in celebration to show off a bandage that said: “100 days, 7.10”. The text was in relation to the Hamas attack on October 7, 100 days before the match, and appeared next to a Star of David. Turkish prosecutors later launched an investigation against Jehezkel on charges of “inciting people to hatred and hostility,” according to Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc. Reports on Monday morning stated that Jehezkel has been released pending trial while NTV television reported that a private plane had been sent…

Germany’s economy shrank by 0.3% in 2023, the federal statistics agency Destatis said on Monday. The announcement comes after months of persistent inflation as well as sluggish demand both locally and globally. “Overall economic development faltered in Germany in 2023 in an environment that continues to be marked by multiple crises,” Destatis head Ruth Brand said in Berlin. Some sectors that have struggled include the automotive industry and the construction industry. Germany avoids recession after figures revised In preliminary figures, Destatis also calculated that Germany saw a 0.3% drop in gross domestic product (GDP) in the forth quarter of 2023.…

The mountains in and around Davos, Switzerland are covered in snow. The temperature outside is minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit).   Gerald Abila arrived here just a few hours ago. He arrived with a suitcase packed with three sweaters and warm underwear. He was told it can get very cold at the World Economic Forum (WEF).  Now, the lawyer from Uganda is sitting in a hotel and talking about his goal. He wants to make the legal system open to everyone in his country and beyond.  “Many people in my country don’t even know that the law exists or that…

The South Pacific nation of Nauru announced Monday it was switching diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China, saying it would no longer consider the self-governing island “as a separate country” but “rather as an inalienable part of China’s territory.”  Taiwan cut ties in return to “safeguard our national dignity”, and accused Beijing of buying Nauru off.  “We demand that Nauru immediately close its embassy in Taiwan,” Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang said.  Taiwan’s 12 remaining diplomatic allies include the Vatican, Guatemala and Paraguay, plus Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. Taiwan says economic assistance…

The UK will send 20,000 troops to one of NATO’s biggest military drills since the Cold War as the alliance practices repelling an invasion by Russian forces, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is expected to announce today.Army, navy and RAF personnel will be deployed to the 31-nation Steadfast Defender exercise in a bid to provide “vital reassurance against the menace” of Vladimir Putin, Mr Shapps will say in a speech. The defence secretary will also warn the West stands at a “crossroads” as he unveils the UK’s contribution to the war games in an address at Lancaster House.Mr Shapps will set…

Jadon Sancho is back at Borussia Dortmund, joining the Bundesliga side on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season as he looks to kick-start a stalling career. “When I walked into the changing room today, it felt like coming home,” Sancho said after signing a six-month loan deal in Dortmund on Thursday — a deal that does not include an option for BVB to buy him back permanently. “I know the club inside out, I’ve always been very close to the fans here and I’ve never lost contact with the people in charge. I can’t wait to see my…